Eagles' fifth straight loss deepens NFC East crisis as Cowboys take division lead
Dak Prescott and Javonte Williams led Dallas to a 38-21 victory over Philadelphia, extending the Eagles' losing streak to its longest since 2016.
By Pedro Barnes ·
Philadelphia Eagles fans watched their team fall to 2-5 after a 38-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night. The defeat marked the fifth consecutive loss for the Eagles, stretching their skid to its longest since 2016. For the team and its owner Jeffrey Lurie, who was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame before the game, the evening offered little comfort.
The Cowboys capitalized on the absence of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, who is expected to miss the rest of the season due to blood clots in his lungs. Career backup Tanner McKee started in his place but struggled to keep the offense moving. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 211 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Eagles are 3-6 without Hurts since he became the starter in 2021.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys also benefited from a career-high 155 rushing yards by Javonte Williams, who scored a 2-yard touchdown. Williams' performance was the first 150-yard rushing game by a Dallas player since Ezekiel Elliott in 2018. The Cowboys finished with 204 total rushing yards.
The game remained competitive until late in the third quarter. With Dallas trailing 21-20, Prescott threw a 16-yard pass to Lamb in the corner of the end zone. Prescott then ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Cowboys a 28-21 lead. Brandon Aubrey added three field goals, the last of which extended the lead to 31-21 before Williams capped the scoring.
The Eagles' defense allowed 416 total yards and 25 first downs to Dallas. Philadelphia has allowed at least 375 yards in each game of its current losing streak. The only Eagles touchdown of the second half came in the third quarter when McKee connected with rookie Makai Lemon on a 4-yard pass. The Eagles did not score again after that drive.
Dallas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown secured the victory with an interception in the fourth quarter. It was his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1. The pick came after the Eagles had driven deep into Dallas territory, but the turnover ended their final offensive threat.
Saquon Barkley returned for the Eagles after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury. He rushed for 62 yards on seven carries but spent time in the medical tent for both his hamstring and a back issue. Wideout DeVonta Smith also sat out the game. Barkley had only 36 rushing yards entering this matchup.
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer praised the performance of his running back. "Javonte, man, the power, the acceleration, it was there tonight. He looked great," Schottenheimer said. Prescott noted the importance of winning on the road in a hostile environment before the team's bye week. "Come out, get a division win on the road in a hostile environment right before we get to go home for a couple of weeks, I think it was massive," Prescott said.
The Cowboys move to 3-4 and hold the only two division victories in the NFC East. The New York Giants lead the division at 4-2-1. The Eagles, at 2-5, face a challenging schedule ahead. They travel to Washington for a Sunday night game against another struggling NFC East rival. Dallas hosts the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
